Suzuki DR650SE reviews

I have pure street and dirt bikes and while the DR can't directly compare to either, it's great as a general purpose machine capable of bridging the gap. It's all around good for both. The tires do a decent job of providing traction in both situations, but you'll deffinately want a better set of knobbies if you plan anything more than easy, dry trails. Where it really excels is on the back roads, whether pavement, gravel or dirt - and it has the size and horsepower to get you there and back ! Gas mileage is ~55mpg. On the negative side, the seat is a bit firmer than most street bikes; for longer hauls it might take some getting used to. Show less

This is the 3rd dual sport bike I've owned, and the biggest. I have had no problems with this bike since I bought it back in 1998. It's heavy enough to ride on the highway without being blown all around, and has enough low end torque for the dirt. Everything has held up real well. All three of my dual sports have been Suzuki's. Show less

This is good information to all riders, no matter what brand. I personally ride a 2005 Suzuki 650, and previously rode a klx650. I find the Suzuki less top heavy and even better after lowering it. The main reason I chose the Suzuki was ease of maintenance over the other choices, lowest of the bunch, oil cooled versus water-cooled, which reduces maintenance, and reasonable performance stock. You have one camshaft & valve adjusters versus shims, again a cost saving. I could go on and on, but this bike serves my purpose on or off road, although it has a few modes to haul my weight around. Show less

I'll let you mid-lifer's in on a little secret that will allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds with the DR650. It's as simple as 1,2,3.
1). GET THE OPTIONAL SHORT SIDESTAND to accommodate the low seat option. This lowers the center of gravity for leaning into turns more safely.
2).GET THE OPTONAL GEL SEAT.
3). Get a 2-point mount windsrceen (believe it or not) from an aftermarket supplier. Do these 3 things and, due to this bike's ultra-light weight (compared to a real sport bike), you'll have the most darned fun, even on long trips, you've ever had on a bike costing less than 6 grand - with an added bonus of having a bike still capable and undiminished dirt fun. Go for it, I did! And by the way, enjoy that 55 mpg too! Show less

That is the question the first person asked at the dealership. When I said, "YA!" They said, "Cool". The second person asked me to "Do a wheelie", I told them I just got it today and I needed some time with it. They answered, "You will". I have just ridden this bike on the road and it is nice to see into the other people's cars by looking down or at the SUV's at the same height. I went 125 miles on 2.5 gallons of fuel and great smile the whole time. Show less

I piked up this dr650 on one evening three weeks ago and as I pulled out of the dealership's lot, vroom, vroom - this bike had already shot up to 80 mph!!! Oh my God. I was used to my old DR200 Suzuki which always ran nicely, with no problems. This 2005 DR65O is one high revving machine and always ready for the throttle. I love the blue and white color. I have ridden on the streets and highways, no dirt so far, and it handles great. This bike is really fast for its class and lots of fun to ride. I will follow up again on this review a few months down the road. Show less

I was looking for something that I could ride that was street legal but be able to ride off road too. This 650 single thumper delivers just that. There's enough low end torque to climb straight up a tree if you could hold the bike to it. On the highway, the bike offers a good amount of mid and top end power, with plenty of snap to pass. The factory seat has got to go, I recommend a gel seat. I also had a frame cover come loose and fall off during a ride on the highway. This is a costly replacement part (what isn't). Overall this dual sport bike lives up to its billing and is a blast to ride! Show less

I looked at DualSports for a couple of years, waiting to buy one (getting the wife to accept the idea). I looked at all the others, but I believe the DR650 is the best overall bike for my needs (paved roads and forest service roads). The FMF pipe and jetting really woke it up, and it sounds much cooler (it also powers up wheelies now). Great overall bike, extremely fun! Show less

Love this thing. The bike has met all expectations and with the mods done, has exceeded them. I will probably do the airbox cut-out and go with a more agressive tire when the stock tires wear out. Other than that, this is the perfect bike for me. I would like to note that if I had just done the seat change (Corbin) the bike would have been just fine. I can never leave anything alone. ;-) Show less

I use this bike 50/50 road to dirt. Stock tires lack the grip needed for serious offroading. Great on the road. I have to agree with others regarding the bikes need to open up. The only gap in the power band is from 40-50 mph. You either rev high in forth or slog along in fifth. But how often do you need to maintain speed within that range. I've had no issue with the seat. This bike isn't designed for 100 mile continuous rides anyway. Without a doubt the best dual purpose on the market today at a bargain price for the quality. This bike is all about fun. Show less